At the July 11th Town Board Meeting, The Huntington Town Board approved a Phase Two feasibility study towards the construction of a 528-space parking structure in Huntington Village. The Board approved to extend the contract with Level G Associates of Old Bethpage, who also performed the Phase One feasibility study.

Phase One of the study consisted of Level G studying the economic and physical feasibility of the parking deck, which would reside between New Street and Green Street in Huntington Village.

In Phase Two, Level G plans to reaffirm their preliminary conclusions by finalizing earlier estimates and projections while also including construction, financial, and revenue plans for the structure. The final report will be submitted to key stakeholders involved in the project funding. The $12,700 cost of Phase Two will be partially funded by the Town’s Economic Development Corporation.

The owners of Melissa Tavern appeared before the New York State Liquor Authority [SLA] on June 8, 2017 seeking the Liquor Authority’s approval to have its forfeited liquor license reinstated.

Noting the longstanding history of violence at this location, the NY State Liquor Authority not only denied Melissa’s application during the June 8 proceeding, but they also went one step further by stating that they will not approve any license to serve at this location for at least the next three years.

“Following Melissa Tavern’s voluntary forfeiture of its liquor license last year amid numerous health and safety violations, the owners of the Huntington Station tavern recently sought to have their new application to serve approved,” stated Councilman Mark Cuthbertson. “For far too long, this establishment has been a detriment to the quality of life for Huntington Station, and I am pleased with the NY SLA’s ruling to keep this troubled location dry through the year 2020,” added Cuthbertson.

Melissa’s rap sheet speaks for itself. According to the Suffolk County Police Department, over the past five years, 127 separately reported incidents have been recorded at this establishment – including homicide, assault, robbery and menacing.

“I would like to thank the Chairman of the New York State Liquor Authority, Vincent Bradley, Commissioner Greeley Ford and fellow Board Members for their consideration and support on this matter,” added Cuthbertson.

Pictured:

Councilman Mark Cuthbertson held a press conference adjacent to Melissa Tavern in Huntington Station on November 3rd, 2016 urging New York State Liquor Authority to revoke Melissa Tavern’s liquor license at the SLA’s November 4, 2016 court proceedings. Councilman Cuthbertson is pictured with Suffolk County Legislator William “Doc” Spencer and local business owners and concerned residents at the November 3rd press conference.

Melville -- Huntington Town officials and community residents joined June 21 in marking the official opening of Sweet Hollow Park, located on the former Meyers Farm in Melville.

The $3.55 million park, which was sought by the community for many years, features elements based on input submitted by more than 70 residents, including bocce courts, tennis courts, pickle ball courts, a basketball court, adult exercise equipment, a children’s playground, game tables and picnic tables. The 8.4-acre parcel also includes five acres of passive parkland that contains a 2,275-foot walking trail. A committee is evaluating designs for a sculpture that will be placed in the park.

“This is really something special today,” Supervisor Frank P. Petrone said in addressing a group of about 200 residents at the opening ceremony. “This was a real effort for all of us. So many years were spent on this, and so much effort. So many things took place that made this work…Look at what we have here: It’s a real showplace for the Town of Huntington and for this great community. And this is your park.”

“When I see the children on the swings, and their voices, and see the smiles on your faces, it really makes this all worthwhile,” Councilman Mark Cuthbertson said.

In their remarks, Supervisor Petrone and Council Members Cuthbertson and Berland singled out civic leader Alissa Taff and the Hindu organization Bochasanwasi Shree Akshar Purushottam-Northeast (BAPS) for their crucial roles in bringing about the park.

The park is the third element of an innovative, complex arrangement that saw the Town buy the land from the BAPS, which had originally proposed erecting a temple on the site. Under the agreement, the temple instead was built on a different site on Deshon Drive that also saw construction of The Club at Melville, a 261-unit affordable senior housing development.

To make that happen, the development rights for the five acres to be used as passive parkland at Sweet Hollow Park were transferred to five acres of the 18-acre site on Deshon Drive that had been used by Newsday as a preprint distribution warehouse and for its business operations. The Town Board changed the zoning on the 18-acre parcel from I1 Industrial to 3M Garden Apartment, a classification that allowed construction of The Club at Melvile, clustering that housing on 13 of the acres. The remaining five acres was sold to BAPS, which, using the development rights transferred from the Meyers Farm property it sold to the Town, built its temple there. Both the temple and the housing development have opened.

In her remarks, Mrs. Taff, president of the Civic Association of Sweet Hollow, traced the 16-year history of the efforts to create the park that began when the Town’s Open Space committee identified the Meyers Fam as a potential parkland site. “The dream has finally come through for Sweet Hollow and the BAPS,” she said. “Let’s enjoy, protect and keep Sweet Hollow Park as a wonderful, hard fought and cherished asset to our community and Huntington.”

Speaking for the BAPS, Dr. Harshad Blatt noted advice the group had gotten from their guru during the process. “We called our guru, and told him, this is what is going on, that there are three different groups interested in building a park, a temple and a community. He told us three things. He said, one, there is never going to be any kind of court procedures; second, remember, in the joy of others, lies our own. And number three, always work in the community and in the families."

This year is the fourteenth season of the Movies on the Lawn program hosted by Councilman Mark Cuthbertson, the Town of Huntington. This year’s lineup will have something for everyone to enjoy.

"This is great family entertainment. Pack up your picnic supper, blankets and lawn chairs and enjoy this summer's movie line-up,” said Cuthbertson. "With every passing year, the crowd of movie-goers multiplies so it's wise to arrive at each venue a little early. We plan to have some fun things to see and do before each show. Our thanks to Jonathan’s Ristorante of Huntington Village and LaCasa at Crab Meadow Beach for co-sponsoring this year’s line-up.”

The force will be with us on Monday, June 26th at Heckscher Park as the summer movies series starts with the showing of STAR WARS – ROGUE ONE (RATED PG-13).

This is the latest installment in the Star Wars trilogy that takes place in a land far, far away about the epic adventure of the Rebel Alliance’s plan to steal the secret plans of the Empire’s destructive planet killer - the Death Star. [RAIN DATE: JULY 17TH]

Then on Thursday, July 6TH, pack up the family, lawn chairs and picnic supper and enjoy a nostalgic Drive-In night at Crab Meadow Beach in Northport with THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS (Rated PG).

This animated tale tells the story of a quiet life of a terrier named Max, whose life is upended when his owner takes in Duke, a stray whom Max instantly dislikes. [RAIN DATE: JULY 13TH]

In addition to the July 6th drive-in showing of “The Secret Life of Pets,” we will hold the Second Annual “Basketball Shootout” sponsored by the Mercurio Basketball Camp. Two lucky winners will receive a FREE TWO-WEEK CAMP SESSION at the Mercurio Basketball Camp, compliments of the Mercurio Basketball Camp of Greenlawn.

The “BASKETBALL SHOOTOUT” will take place from 6pm to 7pm on the basketball courts at Crab Meadow Beach. There will be two shootout sessions. One winner from age group 5-7 and one from age group 8-10 will be attending basketball camp this summer! [RAIN DATE: JULY 13TH.]

The nostalgic outdoor movie experience continues with another Drive-In movie at Crab Meadow Beach on Thursday, July 20th with MOANA (Rated PG). An adventurous teenager, Moana, sets sail on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, she meets the once-mighty demigod, Maui. Together they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds. [RAIN DATE: JULY 27TH]

In addition to the July 20th showing of MOANA; we would like to invite you to enter the Town’s Sixth Annual Sand Castle Contest at Crab Meadow Beach. The Sand Castle Contest is open to Huntington Residents in two AGE categories – for both solo and group competitions: Ages 16 & Under and Ages 17 & Up. Two lucky winners will receive a gift certificate to LaCasa Café…Complements of LaCasa. Gates to Crab Meadow Beach will open at 4pm for those registered in the Sand Castle Contest. To register or for more info, please call 631-351-3112 or visit the Town’s website: HuntingtonNY.gov and click on the Movies on the Lawn banner on the bottom of the homepage. [RAIN DATE: JULY 27TH]

For our last movie of the summer, we will be heading to Peter Nelson Park in Huntington Station (located next to Stimson Middle School on Oakwood Road) on Monday, August 14TH for the animated family favorite – SING.

In a city of humanoid animals, a hustling theater impresario's attempt to save his theater with a singing competition becomes grander than he anticipates even as its finalists' find that their lives will never be the same. [RAIN DATE: AUGUST 21ST.]

All movies begin at darkness (between 8:30-9:00 pm). It is suggested that you pack lawn chairs, including the drive-in performances, in the event the drive-in lot fills early. Overflow parking is available and bus service brings people and their belongings to the beach. In the event of inclement weather on the “Rain Date,” the movie will be held indoors at the ELWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL auditorium, 478 Elwood Road, Elwood and begin at 7:30 pm.

For the most up-to date information on performances, please visit: www.HuntingtonNY.gov or call Councilman Mark Cuthbertson at 631-351-3112.

The Town of Huntington’s Dix Hills Park Golf Course became the first official Footgolf course on Long Island this week as this hybrid sport of golf and soccer was unveiled at the popular nine-hole course facility.

“As an avid golfer and youth soccer coach, I am proud to announce that Huntington is the first on Long Island to offer Footgolf,” said Councilman Mark Cuthbertson. “This represents our continued commitment to providing new and enjoyable recreational opportunities for our residents.”

Originally created in the Netherlands, Footgolf is quickly becoming a popular sport across the nation, drawing strong support and interest from children, adults and seniors. “The object is quite simple – kick a soccer ball into a special designed hole with the fewest kicks possible,” Councilman Cuthbertson said. “However, it’s something easier said than done.”

The Councilman commended the staff of Integrity Golf Co. for bringing the idea to the attention of the Parks & Recreation Department. Integrity is the management company overseeing operations at Dix Hills and Crab Meadow golf courses. “When we partnered with Integrity, we asked them to develop new ideas to enhance the playing experience while generating additional revenue to help offset our maintenance costs,” Councilman Cuthbertson said.

The game is played the same way as golf, except players use a regulation No. 5 soccer ball instead of a golf ball, and the ball is kicked rather than struck with a club. Players begin by kicking the ball from the tee box, hopefully keeping it in play in the fairway.

The object is to get the ball into a special 21-inch round cup, placed to the side and away from the regular golf greens, with the least kicks possible. Players are prohibited from walking on the golf greens or kicking a ball from the surface. Other rules are similar to that of golf.

“This is a great opportunity for a family to enjoy an afternoon of fun and relaxation without having to invest in expensive equipment, lessons and training,” the Councilman said. “To score well, one has to carefully read the course, execute smart approaches and make accurate putts – just like my golf game.”

The cost to play nine holes is $15 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. Soccer balls may be rented for $3 per round.

For more information and to book a tee time, call the Dix Hills Pro Shop at 631-499-8005.

Last week, the Appellate Division of State Supreme Court unanimously upheld a lower court ruling that kept in the case the 1997 pledge as part of the agreement between LIPA and LILCO not to challenge the Northport plant's assessment as long as the plant's assessment was not disproportionately increased. The two Appellate Division decisions, in cases filed by the Town of Huntington and the Northport-East Northport School District, noted both a letter then-LIPA chairman Richard Kessel sent to the Town and statements Kessel made to the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association. In both instances, Kessel said LIPA and LILCO would drop any pending tax certiorari cases and not initiate any further ones at any time in the future.

These decisions can be considered big wins for the Town and the school district. How big? The analyst at Moody's Investors Service who follows the Northport-East Northport School District called the decision "credit positive" for the school district and noted that "the ruling will benefit other local governments on New York's Long Island with tax bases that also have significant exposure to LIPA." The analyst specifically cited the Town as one of those governments.

The second development was action by the Town Board in response to recent state legislation requiring LIPA and National Grid to study the feasibility of repowering the Northport Plant. In a resolution we sponsored, the Town Board, at the July 11 meeting, voted to create a "Repower Now Citizens Committee." This nine-member committee will include representatives from the Town, the school district, the Villages of Northport and Asharoken, as well as persons with engineering and sustainable energy backgrounds. Creating this committee will allow local residents to provide input into the LIPA-National Grid repowering analysis.

We have said since the outset of LIPA filing its assessment challenge that repowering Northport would provide a solution both to the assessment case and to Long Island's future energy needs. We have contended that repowering existing plants such as Northport is more cost-effective than building new plants and have offered not to increase the assessment on the plant to reflect any improvements that are the result of repowering. We hope that the Repower Now Citizens Committee will help provide relevant information that will help the LIPA-National Grid feasibility study reach the same conclusion. The Town is currently seeking experts to serve on the Committee.

We are at the place in the case - pretrial proceedings -- where events develop slowly. But do no read the lack of new information as an indication that we have weakened our resolve. We still stand firm and united in our determination to beat back LIPA's effort to slash its taxes while raising yours.

Elwood, NY- Councilman Mark Cuthbertson recently announced a new pilot program at Elwood Park that offers Town of Huntington residents with a unique opportunity to exercise outdoors -- and have their friends or family join them.

“Not everyone can afford a gym membership, own or have the extra space for exercise equipment, but that should not prevent someone from working out and adopting a healthier lifestyle,” stated Councilman Mark Cuthbertson. “That was the idea for installing an outdoor fitness center at Elwood Park. Now anyone who wants to stay in shape can have access to five pieces of adult exercise apparatus to trim, tone and strengthen."

The outdoor fitness center is comprised of a circle of five exercise machines designed to give 12 adults at one time a full body “circuit-style” workout. The equipment consists of: • A four-person (pendulum) Abdominal & Dip station • A two-person Lat Pull Down & Chest Press Machine • A four-person Leg Press Machine • A single Rower Machine • A single Elliptical Machine

The Elwood Fitness Center is the third outdoor fitness installation of its kind at a Town of Huntington Park. There is a one-quarter mile long outdoor fitness trail at Dix Hills Park and similar equipment at Savings Court Park. For information on these outdoor fitness centers and the numerous programs and activities offered through the Town’s Parks and Recreation Department, call Councilman Mark Cuthbertson’s Office at 631-351-3171 or email: mcuthbertson@HuntingtonNy.gov

The Town of Huntington, Suffolk County, and the North Shore Land Alliance finalized their plan to purchase the DeForest Williams property in Cold Spring Harbor on September 23rd, protecting the environmentally-sensitive land from development.

Suffolk County paid half of the $6 million total purchase price for the 27.1-acre parcel of land and the Town of Huntington and North Shore Land Alliance each chipped in 25 percent.

The North Shore Land Alliance is also purchasing an additional four acres of the property to be used for parking and access to the preserve, which is slated to become passive parkland for visitors to enjoy.

“This is a model that should be replicated: different levels of government coming together with the private sector to pool money and make terrific things happen,” said Councilman Mark Cuthbertson, co-sponsor of the Town’s resolution to purchase the property in June.

“Usually, environmental groups support what you do; here, one is actually involved in the purchase,” said Huntington Supervisor Frank P. Petrone, who had approached the Land Alliance about becoming a partner in the effort to match the County’s funding for the purchase. “The North Shore Land Alliance’s contribution helps stretch taxpayer dollars and preserve more land.”